LOS ANGELES — The strongest earthquake to strike a populated area of Southern California in more than a decade rattled windows and chandeliers, made buildings sway and sent people running into the streets on Tuesday. But there were no immediate reports of serious injuries or major damage.
The 5.4-magnitude quake, considered moderate, was felt from Los Angeles to San Diego, and as far east as Las Vegas, 230 miles away. Nearly 30 aftershocks quickly followed, the largest estimated at 3.8.
The quake was centered 29 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles near Chino Hills. Buildings swayed in downtown Los Angeles for several seconds, leading to the evacuation of some offices.
Disneyland visitor Clint Hendrickson, 32, said he was in the Golden Horseshoe theater watching a show when the temblor hit.
“The ground moved and the chandelier started shaking,” he said. “We are from Texas and we thought it was part of the show, until people started yelling, ‘Get under the tables!’ ”
Attractions at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure theme parks and at the Knott’s Berry Farm theme park were temporarily closed for inspections after the shaking.
“It’s the first time in my life I actually got under my desk,” Anaheim police Sgt. Ken Seymour, a Southern California native, told the Los Angeles Times.
California’s Office of Emergency Services received scattered reports of minor infrastructure damage, including broken water mains and gas lines.
Minor structural damage was reported throughout Los Angeles, along with five minor injuries.
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